4 ms·

To be fair, I think both sides are at fault in this specific instance (e.g. XCloud streaming) with some seismic broader impacts. Microsoft is at fault for not

To be fair, I think both sides are at fault in this specific instance (e.g. XCloud streaming) with some seismic broader impacts. Microsoft is at fault for not realizing that the existing App Store policies did not include game streaming and working with Apple to resolve it from the beginning. XCloud was first announced 2 years ago so to wait until the eve of launch to realize this is a blocker is laughable. Then to try to publicly escalate this is just playing with fire. Seems eerily similar to Nvidia's GeForce Now fiasco of not having properly having agreements with game studios before the launch. Apple is at fault for being behind times and being draconian about App Store policies. It's 2020 and streaming is the new norm, so to claim that it's against policy is a bit anachronistic. App Store is no longer some niche platform so this only strengths the antitrust case against Apple. If this is about micro transactions and getting the 30% cut, then it's a short-sighted move since if anything game streaming will drive adoption of iOS devices (e.g. iPad is almost the perfect streaming display).

1propionyl 6y ago
> "It's 2020 and streaming is the new norm..." Is it really? While I don't think Apple is doing this for any particularly good reason, I for one would rather streaming of games not become even remotely the norm. When games become services, all kinds of perverse incentive structures are emphasized, in order to continue to produce revenue quarter after quarter. Microtransactions, FOMO based season systems, loot boxes, and various forms of applied captology to name a few. Games, like movies and music, walk the line between commodity entertainment and art. From what we've seen with movies and music, streaming services have tended to shove the balance towards commoditization. A parallel could be drawn to music streaming. See: https://www.thefader.com/2020/07/30/spotify-ceo-daniel-ek-says-working-musicians-can-no-longer-release-music-only-once-every-three-to-four-years https://www.thefader.com/2020/07/30/spotify-ceo-daniel-ek-sa... What Elk is proposing is essentially what some game developers are already doing. Annual releases of the same IP with minor gameplay changes and different skins (Assassins' Creed, Call of Duty, etc). You can see the seeds of a subscription model in Overwatch's "sequel but not really a sequel". Would it really be better if instead you paid a subscription per franchise you want to play?
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selykg 6y ago
Do we actually know that Microsoft hasn't been trying to resolve this for longer? I haven't seen any real indication that they haven't been.

1propionyl 6y ago

> "It's 2020 and streaming is the new norm..." Is it really? While I don't think Apple is doing this for any particularly good reason, I for one would rather streaming of games not become even remotely the norm. When games become services, all kinds of perverse incentive structures are emphasized, in order to continue to produce revenue quarter after quarter. Microtransactions, FOMO based season systems, loot boxes, and various forms of applied captology to name a few. Games, like movies and music, walk the line between commodity entertainment and art. From what we've seen with movies and music, streaming services have tended to shove the balance towards commoditization. A parallel could be drawn to music streaming. See: https://www.thefader.com/2020/07/30/spotify-ceo-daniel-ek-says-working-musicians-can-no-longer-release-music-only-once-every-three-to-four-years https://www.thefader.com/2020/07/30/spotify-ceo-daniel-ek-sa... What Elk is proposing is essentially what some game developers are already doing. Annual releases of the same IP with minor gameplay changes and different skins (Assassins' Creed, Call of Duty, etc). You can see the seeds of a subscription model in Overwatch's "sequel but not really a sequel". Would it really be better if instead you paid a subscription per franchise you want to play?

deleted 6y ago
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selykg 6y ago

Do we actually know that Microsoft hasn't been trying to resolve this for longer? I haven't seen any real indication that they haven't been.